I planned with the best of intentions. Barring bad weather getting in the way, I could get some rest after an 11-hour flight, then make an early morning drive to the eastern shore of Maryland for the50K Pain in the Neck.

My view from morning run before departure flight

Arriving home and with snow in the morning forecast, I pondered instead of an early morning drive, leaving several hours after my flight arrived, then spending the night near the race start. I almost followed through, but decided instead to unpack my bags and make my way through several weeks of snail mail.

As jet lag began to set in, my desire to do the race was offset by my desire for some sleep and downtime, so I considered a fallback to my almost.

My fallback wasThe Last Mile, a race I enjoy doing with friends. It offers pottery age-group awards and the local fire company makes chicken corn soup for the runners. I always buy an extra container to take home when they have any to spare.

Last Mile (it’s actually 5 miles) AG award from a previous year when I did better than an ‘almost’

Well, I almost went. But, I slept in (jet lag, you know) and the snow coming down looked so pretty from my side of the window and the temperature was hovering around 15 degrees F. So, I almost went to my fallback race, but no.

By afternoon with the almosts behind me, temperatures had tilted up past 20 degrees.

I’m the only runner out with the sunrise. My fellow humans at this dawn are fitness walkers, a few accompanied by dogs. Otherwise, tropical sounds of early morning bird calls and the brush moving with the trade winds are my company.

I’ve planned the morning run to take me to a dead-end street with a view of the coastline a few minutes before the appointed sunrise hour of 7:11 a.m. This day has the southernmost sunrise and sunset. It is also a day with the longest night, and shortest amount of daylight.

Seconds later most of the sun’s view has emerged

If you live in the Hawaiian Islands or have visited during the month of December, you’ve experienced daylight hours that are somewhat longer than those where most of us bundle up like a well-dressed Frosty the Snowman. In June, there is just over 13 hours of daylight. In December, just over 11 hours of daylight. The difference in hours of daylight throughout the year is not as extreme as in the Northeast U.S. where we can be in the late shade of twilight nearing 9:00 in the evening.

Hawaii does not observe Daily Savings Time. Why bother, with such a small fluctuation in daylight hours? All of this to say, that it has an odd feel to be in a place where there is more winter daylight than I usually experience. That doesn’t stop anyone on this island from joining in the always adapting ancient winter solstice rituals burning candles and stringing lights to celebrate the season.

In a brief minute, the full sun has cleared the horizon.

On this island you must be quick.

On any day of the year both sunrise and sunset send their early alert streaks across the sky. But when the full sun rises from or falls into the ocean of the horizon, it is mere seconds as that full orange ball makes its appearance or disappearance.

Boldly shining through heavy cloud cover before the end of day

5:53 p.m. sunset occurs. Shortly beforehand, we pull into a parking lot near the lagoon beside the airport. Not a touristy spot, this lot has a view of cargo planes loading and an airfield surrounded by barb wire.

A last brief flare in the night sky

A few other cars are parked, huge cameras on tripods set up, people ready to chat about the cloud cover obscuring today’s setting sun.

Hawaii says good-bye to another solstice as the sun appears to disappear into the Pacific

As this day with the most darkness and the shortest daylight ends, I’m wishing you light in the dark, friends and family at your side – sweet solitude if that is your desire, memories of the past and dreams for the future, and running during many more sunrises.

Up and about in the early morning hours of my first Hawaii daybreak, I try to be a good houseguest and avoid waking my host. I bide my time with a delicious cup of Hawaiian coffee and quiet time on the lanai. Patience brings the dawn and I’m off for a brief sunrise run. Makakilo, ‘observing eyes’ in the Hawaiian language, is a superb lookout point. As I turn out of the street from my son’s home, the view extends down the island past Waikiki Beach all the way to Diamond Head. This morning, the landmark is shrouded in clouds but still visible. This vista was once a strategic spot to observe approaching visitors, be they friend or foe. Now, it’s a residential community far off the tourist circuit.

I run downhill on a wide boulevard under a canopy of monkeypod trees. A simple 4-miler will be great for stretching out after a long flight, which is also a great excuse to run an out-and-back to the Malama Market and pick up a few goodies. This little store at first glance appears to be a typical mini-market. Inside, it has the feel of an old fashioned grocery, with a deli area of fresh sandwiches, breads, salads and seafood with a local touch, and a great little coffee shop next door. I snap up a pack of warm Hawaiian-style andagi, and a couple of other items. Three favorites: travel, running and a kickstart with a fresh morning local food treat.

“Sata andagi” is Okinawa doughnuts.サーターアンダーギー (Photo credit: Wikip

This is daunting running territory, with tough uphills and downhills. With a little less than two miles distance, my mini-grocery run requires a straight downhill with more than a 70 foot drop in elevation (This U-tube video is a good visual of the downhill), which in turn means 70 feet elevation gain for my return trip. With goodies loaded into a running backpack, I begin my reverse trek uphill with a jog, which quickly becomes a fast walk.

I’m seeing a few other solo runners, retired boomers like myself along with a few military folks sharing a portion of my route. On O’ahu, most runners are out early and in before 9 a.m. or so. With this year’s Honolulu Marathon taking place last weekend (Sunday, December 9), this is a recovery week for some.

The sun is quickly rising in the sky but soon enough I’m back to the house. It’s time for some holiday gift baking before the second phase of my jet lag sets in.

Wishing all good family visits, good food, safe travels and few moments to get out for run.

Mary Lou Harris

Mary Lou writes about the adventures and misadventures of a senior runner, ultra trail runner and hiker. She is an RRCA-accredited race director. Mary Lou Harris is a proponent of active living, community volunteerism and inquisitive travel.